Decabbontzing and ciectjlation pbomcotibtg attachment fob intebnal



G. L. ERIKSSON. DECARBONIZING AND CIRCULATION PROMOTING ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.- 29, 1920.

Patented Oct. '19, 1920. 26 E? I E 2? 25a /7 A? Md l4 /O 1- 9 'K \llliryf 5& f

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2% Lnz Qwuamtoz 2 M affoi neq UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. ERIKSSON, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

DECABBONIZING AND CIRCULATION PROMOTING ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL- COMIBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 29, 1920. Serial No. 354,819.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. EnIKssoN, citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of StLouis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decarbonizing and Circulation-Promoting Attachments for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a de-carbonizing and circulation promoting attachment for internal combustion engines and it has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive attachment utilizing certain of the standard parts of engines already in use through which moist air may be drawn from the radiator and delivered to the intake manifold of the engine to promote decarbonization of the engine cylinders, the air thus withdrawn being replaced by air that is delivered into the water jacket of the engine at such a point that it will aid in setting up a circulation of the water in the cooling system of engines that are cooled by the thermosiphon method.

The present invention is an improvement upon that set forth in my co-pending application, Serial Number 343,012, filed December 6, 1919.

It is a primary object of the invention to so arrange the parts that the attachment will serve as a trap and condenser to condense and return to the cooling water valuable volatile substances, such for example, as the alcohol placed therein in cold weather to prevent freezing of the water, andwhich, if

drawn into the intake manifold would be burned in the engine and lost. By virtue of the arrangement of parts herein shown and described the condensation of these volatile products and their return to the cooling water is rendered entirely automatic.

It is a further object of the invention to preheat the moisture laden air before its ent into the intake manifold to insure that nothing but warm vapor shall enter the cylinders. This improves combustion and prevents the formation of carbon.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows:

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine and its radiator with the attachment applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the condensing tank; and r Fig. 3 is a detail view of an adjustable nozzle which may be employed if desired.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

In the drawing 5 designates an automobile engine of the well known Ford type, 6 the radiator thereof, 7 the intake manifold, 8 the lower hose connection, 9 the upper hose connection and 10 the usual overflow pipe from the'radiatora All of these parts are of the well known construction. In carrying out the invention I tap into the fitting 8 of the=lower hose connection an air pipe 11 having an inwardly opening check valve 12 upon its upper end, this check valve being disposed at a level above the level of water in the radiator and preferably just beneath-the engine hood.

A condensation and expansion tank .13 located just below the top of thehood (not shown) is connected by a pipe 14: with the water chamber 10 of the radiator. The overflow pipe 10 of the radiator leads to the tank 13, entering the tank above the level of the water in the cooling system, An overflow pipe 17 leads from the tank 13 above the level of the water inthe cooling system and has a self closing valve at its lower end. This valve consists of a lever 18 that is pivoted at 19 and is weighted at 20 to move a plug 21 upwardly to close the mouth of the pipe 17. This construction prevents air from entering the system through the pipe 17 but permits the escape of water from said pipe. To prevent the splashing of the water from causing the water to find its way into the overflow pipe a baffle plate 22 is disposed to cover the mouth of said pipe, said haffie plate .bemg perforated and a second plate 23 being dis- Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

posed at an inclination in front of the mouth of the pipe and inside of the baffle plate 22. Upon splashing of the water the baflie plate 22 first breaks the force of the water and permits only' a limited amount to enter gently through the perforations of the baffle plate 22 and this limited amount will be further checked by the presence of the baflie plate 23, thus no water will find its way into the pipe 17 unless the level of the water in the cooling system rises above the mouth of the overflow pipe 17.

A condensing and baflle plate 24: is disposed in the upper portion of the tank 13, said plate being conical in form and inclos ing a nozzle 25 that is disposed at the mouth of a pipe 26 which leads from the upper part of the tank to and around the exhaust pipe 27 of the engine and is then tapped into the intake manifold 7. If desired, an adjusting needle valve may be arranged to determine the degree of flow through the nozzle 25.

An automatic vacuum governed valve may be used if desired to compensate for varying pressures in the intake manifold and to secure a uniform degree of vacuum in the radiator and tank. Valves of this nature are already well known in the art some of them being used to automatically open to admit an auxiliar air supply to the intake manifold after t e engine reaches a redetermined speed.

t will be understood that in operation the creation of a partial vacuum in the intake manifold will draw air through the pipe 26. The only way in which this air can be replaced is through the check valve 12 and pipe 11. Air flowing through the pipe 11 enters the water acket of the engine at'8", it being understood that any suitable type of nozzle may be emplo ed at the point of entry of the pipe 11 into the pipe 8. This air rising in the form of bubbles through the water jacket on its way to the upper hose connection 9 and the top of the radiator sets up a corresponding movement of the water and promotes a degree of circulation not ordinarily resent in thermo siphon systems. Moist air mm the top of the radiator together with any alcohol or other valuable volatile substances in the form of vapor which may be resent in the upper part of the radiator W1 1 pass through the overflow pipe to the tank 13, where, striking upon the condensing and baffle plate 24 these vapors are condensed along with a certain proportion of the water vapor and returned to the body of water in the tank 13 whence the are returned to the cooling system throng the pipe 14. The movement of the automobile splashes water from tank 13 on the condensing baflie-plate 24 and this in conjunction with the current of air, flowing to the intake manifold keeps this plate cool enough to condense a large part of the volatile vapors and moisture from the air. The remaining air drawn through the wet baffle? plate will be moisture laden when it starts through pipe 26 and will be heated by coil 26*. The air, together with a certain proportion of the water vapor passes through the pipe 26 and around the coil 26 which embraces the exhaust pipe of the engine as before stated and this humid and heated air enters the intake manifold of the engine and is delivered in that condition to the cylinders. It is a well known fact that the introduction of air of this nature promotes combustion; makes the engine run more smoothly and aids in preventing the formation of carbon. Some of the volatile alcohol may be drawn into the intake manifold but if so it will be advantageously used along with the fuel, instead of being entirely lost as is the case with vapors discharged through the overflow pipes of radiators in the ordinary way. Since the overflow pipe 17 of the tank 13 is disposed below the level of the pipe 26 it is manifest that no water can ever find its way into the intake manifold even though the water may rise in the tank 13 due to expansion of the contents of the cooling system. While I have illustrated the invention as being applied to an automobile engine it is of course apparent that it is useful in other relations, such as upon tractors or upon stationary or portable gasolene engines used for any purpose whatever.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple and eflicient means are provided for carrying out the invention but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claim. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim is The combination with an internal combustion engine and a radiator of the thermo siphon type of a tank of much smaller capacity than the radiator having its top disposed substantially at the level of the top of the body portion of the radiator, a connection to the bottom of the tank for supplying water to said tank from the cooling system to maintain the same water level in the tank and radiator and to return condensation to the cooling system, a pipe leading, from the space within the extreme top of the radiator to the space within the top of the tank and above the water level therein, an outlet air pipe leading out of the top of said tank and entering the intake manifold of the engine between the engine and carbureter, a perforated, cup like, condensation plate depending from the top of the tank and covering the mouth of the outrially above the level of the water in said let pipe and preventing the passage of air system to a point below the level of the to said outlet pipe except through said plate, water therein. 10 said plate being disposed in such position In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my 5 that the water Within the tank will splash signature.

thereon and an air pipe for admitting air 1 to the cooling system from a point mate-' GEORGE L. ERIKSSON. 

